Proof of a hard-fought baseball game can always be found on baseball pants. Sliding into home plate, diving onto the outfield or getting tangled up with another player can result in stains from clay, mud, grass and even blood. Fortunately, most baseball pants are designed to withstand hard play and tough conditions that can cause stains. When stains are treated promptly with the correct stain removal method, it is possible to keep baseball pants clean.
Step 1
Remove excess dirt or clay from the pants with a stiff brush if the pants are dry. Gently brush away from the pants, taking care to not grind the dirt further into the fabric.
Step 2
Spray the pants with cold water in a utility sink or outdoors with a hose to remove excess dirt and mud. Caked-on mud can be removed with a scraper or dull knife.
Step 3
Presoak pants stained from mud or blood in cool water with heavy-duty detergent or an enzyme presoak product. Never use hot water to soak these types of stains because the heat will cause the stain to coagulate in the fabric, making the stain more difficult to remove.
Step 4
Pretreat grass stains by rubbing heavy-duty detergent directly into the stain. Rinse out the detergent, then soak the pants in cool water with color-safe bleach. If the stain is stubborn and the pants are colorfast, they may be soaked in water with chlorine bleach.
Step 5
Pretreat stains from red clay with a paste made from white vinegar and table salt. Rub the paste directly into the stain and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes.
Step 6
Rinse baseball pants in cool water after pretreating. If the stain persists, repeat the pretreatment process for the type of stain and rinse again in cool water.
Step 7
Launder pants in warm water with heavy-duty laundry detergent. Add color-safe bleach if the fabric is not colorfast. If the fabric is colorfast, add chlorine bleach for maximum effectiveness.
Tips and Warnings
- Always treat stains on baseball pants as soon as possible. The longer a stain sits, the more difficult it is to remove. Check the fabric care tag on the pants for recommended care guidelines. To test colorfastness of fabric, mix 1 tbsp. of bleach with a 1/4 cup of water. Place a few drops of the mixture on an inside seam and wait two minutes. Blot the area dry and check for color changes. If no changes occur, the fabric is colorfast and safe for chlorine bleach.
- Liquid chlorine bleach has a limited shelf life. Bleach that is older than six months and not effective on stains should be replaced. Always follow manufacturer recommendations when using bleach and stain removal products. The chemicals in some products are dangerous when mixed.
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